Pope asks priests to use new media in their ministry

Vatican website

Pope Benedict has appealed for priests to discover ways of using digital technology to proclaim the Word of God in their ministry.

In his Message for World Communications Day: 'The Priest and Pastoral Ministry in a Digital World: New Media at the Service of the Word, the Holy Father says: "Using new communication technologies, priests can introduce people to the life of the Church and help our contemporaries to discover the face of Christ. They will best achieve this aim if they learn, from the time of their formation, how to use these technologies in a competent an appropriate way, shaped by sound theological insights and reflecting a strong priestly spirituality grounded in constant dialogue with the Lord.

"Yet priests present in the world of digital communications should be less notable for their media savvy than for their priestly heart, their closeness to Christ. This will not only enliven their pastoral outreach, but also will give a 'soul' to the fabric of communications
that makes up the 'Web'."

The Holy Father's message for World Communications Day is traditionally published on the feast day of St Francis de Sales, patron saint of writers and journalists(January 24).

World Communications Day 2010 will be celebrated on 16 May.

To read the full text in English, on the Vatican website, see: www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/communications/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20100124_44th-world-communications-day_en.html